Whether you like it or not, “boomer shooters” have come in earnest and are here to stay. Steam now officially recognizes the name as a designation for retro first-person shooters, adding the term as a Steam category that developers and users can tag games with. The term refers to a return to the glory days of classic fast-paced shooters like Doom, Quake, Hexen and Heretic, usually paired with retro graphics reminiscent of the 90s and early 2000s.
While there are plenty of modern shooters out there right now, from the realistic Call of Duty and Battlefield to the flashy Apex Legends and The Finals, some of the best shooters on Steam are nods to games like Doom. Whether you’re nostalgic for your youth, or a young gamer looking to relive the past with a modern twist, here are some of the best boomer shooters available right now.
Traitor
Prodeus from Bounding Box Software reimagines the old style of shooter, mixing it with modern technology and stylish execution, capturing the essence of shooters of the 90s, but looking much better. The exciting campaign supports co-op for up to 4 players, with The Elder Veil DLC coming in the future.
Page in Steam.
Ultrakill
Ultrakill from Finnish developer Arsi Patala has a 98% positive rating on Steam out of over 80,000 reviews, so it’s safe to say it’s worth it.
Fast, bloody, and with a style that rewards style and skill, Ultrakill adds modern Doom to its retro flair.
Page in Steam.
Forgive Me Father
Forgive Me Father from Byte Barrel has perhaps one of the most distinctive styles among boomer shooters. With comic book-style graphics and a dark, retro setting inspired by Lovecraftian horror, Forgive Me Father’s unique look makes this a must-see game, and its nightmarish setting will push you to the brink of madness and despair as you progress through hordes of enemies.
With the sequel Forgive Me Father 2 out on Steam Early Access, now is the time to see where it all began.
Page in Steam.
Chop Goblins
The new work of David Szymanski, developer of the excellent Dusk, Chop Goblins is a compact shooter with a plot about jumps in time – an excellent option for completing in one sitting. Fight in locations from ancient Greece to 19th century Transylvania and beyond as you try to stop the flood of enemies.
Page in Steam.
Ion Fury
Ion Fury developer Voidpoint has teamed up with 3D Realms to bring back their iconic Build engine, used in games like Duke Nukem 3D and Shadow Warrior, for a new game that evokes the nostalgia of classic titles.
Page in Steam.
Amid Evil
Amid Evil from the Indefatigable studio features unique types of weapons. Sure, you can smash your enemies to bits with reinforced fists at insane speeds… But what about an ax with a head that spins like a blender? A trident charged with lightning? Or a scythe cutting through space-time?
Page in Steam.
What are your favorite boomer shooters?
